Mexico returned to work and schools Wednesday. The flu death toll rose but mostly from testing already deceased patients for the flu. There is some criticism that the return is premature although the government is taking extra precautions to screen …

Dont cancel those tickets yet. First of all, Bangkok aside, the rest of Thailand is completely unchanged by the political unrest. The islands or Chaing Mai or wherever will give no sign of the protests in Bangkok. As of now the recent protests that …

As an English teacher in other parts of Asia I can give you information that may be relevant. Students in rural areas have a big advantage if they can speak English often because it allows them the skills to find employment elsewhere. Money earned i…

No, if you have experience you will not need a guide, just a map and some adventure. Depending on season the trail can get tough though so be cautious. The places on the way arent the kind of places that take reservations until you get up near sapa.…

As far as where to drive up the west coast stay on the 101. It is the coastal drive that stretches the entire coastline, going through Big Sur and Canyon beach and the redwood forests. For a car i would look on Craiglist down in San Diego, or where …

The best route for that would be to take the train from Singapore into Malaysia. I would not linger in Malaysia unless you are going to the islands...some people love it, others like other countries much more. From Malaysia cross into Thailand's sou…

Hiring a bicylce is safe for riding around Chiang Mai. On highways, particularly hilled rides and mountain roads, trucks and busses drive very fast with a penchant for passing on blind corners. I would not recommend venturing to Pai on a bycicle fr…

You will want to cash for anything that may arise while not near an ATM or place that will take debit cards. That is unlikely to be if you are flying but probable if you are going by train or bus. I have found traveller cheques to be more of a hassl…

Hello, I think this recent previous thread on the forum will be a big help for BAngkok, Kwai, and Chaing Mai. you www.wordtravels.com/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=369&page=1#Item_0
It is very possible to do almost everything in thai…

Yes, it is safe to travel in Mexico. Violence has not been targeted to tourists and so far is limited to people somehow connected to the drug industry and enforcement. Much of this is limited to border towns. Resort areas will surely be fine.

Americans can drive in Europe with their regular driver license. However, in Europe there can be some confusion as each American state issues its own drivers license. It's a bit much for a foreign country to keep track of 50 different American forms…

Indonesia by and large is safe, but the country is so vast and different there are definitely things to avoid. As your friend is from Indonesia Im sure she will know how to be safe. Jakarta is a slum and crime is common, just make sure to not walk a…

There are many uncrowded places in Thailand and it really depends on what else you want. For example a less crowded city is Chiang Rai in the north. Close to that is Pai a little relaxing mountain town with a big tourist infrastructure. Bangkok is c…

Check out airasia.com they are based in KL and are usually very cheap especially from KL. I would advise stopping at Koh Tarutao which is a great island right on the Thai/Malay border. Its easy to reach from bus taken near the train station stop in …

You can also take the bus to My Sot in the north from Chiang Mai. This is a day trip into Myanmar and popular for visa runs which will get you an extra 15 days. Check if the border is open when you go as relations between Myanmar and Thailand are al…

Laos is very safe in terms of crime but not so safe when it comes to medical facilities and transportation safety. Also more than 100 people a year die of unexploded bombs and mines left from the American war so stay on trodden paths. If you need se…

starting from norther California it is always best to stay on Highway 1, its the most scenic road on the west coast and goes from california up into Oregon. The Oregon coastline is well worth the drive, the redwoods continue into southern Oregon and…

Welcome to a web of confusion on online air tickets. Here is some help. In general there are types of ticket search sites. The first lets you buy the tickets through the airlines. The second kind searches a list of the first kind for the cheapest p…

What you need to do is log onto the US government's ESTA website and fill out a quick form. This usually gets reviewed in a few minutes but they say to do it at least three days in advance. After they give you clearence you are on your way.

The regulations are more lax than they used to be. The dog needs be vaccinated against Rabies 30 days before you travel and a certificate needs to be shown to prove this. Some states impose stricter regulations. For example in Hawaii dogs needs to …

Airtickets are often part of a package deal in Vegas and will be cheaper as well. Everything in Vegas is part of "deal" but even more now. The famous Cirque du Soleil is discounting tickets which it has never done before. The big hotels are discount…

The midwest has some the country's most impressive scenery, for example Yellowstone National Park or Glacier National Park in the North Midwest are among the most beautiful sites in America so are the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. The lines of the midwes…